Walsh Adds Ashley Priess-Johnston To Complete Illinois Gymnastics Staff

Walsh Adds Ashley Priess-Johnston To Complete Illinois Gymnastics Staff

Illinois women's gymnastics head coach, Nadalie Walsh, announced the addition of Ashley Priess-Johnston to her staff. Johnston joins Walsh and fellow-assistant coach Chris Bogantes from the Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy.

Aug 2, 2017 by Rebecca Johnson
Walsh Adds Ashley Priess-Johnston To Complete Illinois Gymnastics Staff
Release via Illinois Athletics

Illinois women's gymnastics head coach Nadalie Walsh announced the addition of Ashley Priess-Johnston to her staff. Johnston joins Walsh and fellow-assistant coach Chris Bogantes from the Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy.

"I am really looking forward to bringing Ashley on staff," said Walsh. "I think what she brings to the table will really complement my vision for the program. Ashley's confident and passionate personality stood out immediately during the interview process. I believe Ashley will fit very well with what Chris and I have already established. I believe she is also going to bring something new and dynamic to the table."

Ashley's experience in the elite world with being a brevet judge and having coached at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy for multiple years will be a great asset to program. Ashley was also a decorated Alabama gymnast who knows what it takes to compete at the highest level.
"I believe she is going to help bring the high standard that I want to set as a staff for the Illinois gymnastics program."

Priess-Johnston joins the Fighting Illini women's gymnastics staff after serving as a coach at the Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy. Prior to her time at the CGA, Priess-Johnston was an elite gymnast on both the collegiate and international stage.

"I am honored to step into the assistant coach position at the University of Illinois," said Priess-Johnston. "I felt a great camaraderie with the coaching staff, team and administration that makes me excited to help carry out the vision for this team."

Illinois has all of the tools to be a championship contender, and I am thankful and eager to start this journey in my home state.
On the international stage, Ashley helped Team USA win a silver medal at the 2006 World Championships and also won a gold and silver medal at the 2006 World Cup in France. Priess-Johnston competed at the international level from 2003 to 2007 before attending the University of Alabama.

A native of Wheaton, Illinois, Priess-Johnston was a 10-time All-American and helped Alabama to back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2011 and 2012. The Crimson Tide also earned two SEC Championships in 2009 and 2011. Priess-Johnston garnered five NCAA Regional individual titles and two SEC individual titles during her time with Alabama. Off the mat, Priess-Johnston earned the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, was a three-year team captain, president of SAAC, and winner of the Paul Bryant Award.  

Priess-Johnston earned her bachelor's degree in Spanish from Alabama in 2011 and went on to earn a master's degree from Alabama in Sports Management in 2013.